Human freedom and the ten commandments Essay Example for Free

Human freedom and the ten commandments Essay When Jesus was asked, What must I do to inherit eternal life? , he replied: You know the Commandments, keep these and you will live. It has been said, that the Ten Commandments are not simple rules mandated by God, but rather, this set of rules is considered as a gift given to men in order for them to live the life that God has promised. Although the word â€Å"commandment†, by itself, imports something mandatory and obligatory, it must be understood that God has granted each one of his people freedom and independence to choose how he or she will act, and hence, human freedom is an important topic to be discussed alongside the Ten Commandments. It will be seen, that the kind of life that men live is simply a reflection of how he uses the freedom that he has been gifted with. A person can either live a life full of one spent as a good follower of God. Although some would say that it is a question of fate, destiny, or maybe even luck, the truth is that, a person lives a life based on his own choices and decisions. As have been stated, men have been gifted with freedom, and it is up to him how he will utilize this gift. Every person has different forms of needs and wants that have to be dealt with in everyday life. This is where freedom sets in. In allowing absence of restriction, God permits every individual the opportunity to shape his life. It has been stated that this is one risk that God chose to take. â€Å"God risked much in creating us humans with the freedom, now, to unleash horrendous nuclear disaster or to love our fellows across all boundaries. † (Grider, 1994). It is the freedom that each one has been blessed with that enables him to understand and appreciate the life that he has and all the beauty that comes with it. On the other hand, if this freedom is abused, then the consequences that go with it, would also have to be dealt with by the individual concerned. Being free entails a lot of responsibility. It is believed that God granted every individual the gift of freedom, not for the sole reason that he be boundless or limitless. Man is given freedom for him to be responsible for all the things that he says, does or even thinks of. True enough, some philosophers believe that the things that happen to each individual can be traced to the actions and decisions that he chooses to take. Most of the times, it is not up to the heavens if a good or bad thing happens to one person. More of than not, everything that happens to a person can be traced to the course of action that he chose to take. The scriptures that God instructed to be drafted, in essence, are mere forms of guidance for men; but in the end, it is human freedom which will eventually dictate whether or not an individual will live his life by these guidelines. The concept of human freedom is more often discussed by mentioning the story of what happened to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. As has been aptly stated, â€Å"these questions as to the nature of human freedom arise especially when we turn our attention to the question of the origin of sin. Only consider how many times the origin of sin has been ascribed to this human freedom of choice, implying this twofold power of man’s nature and of his creaturely existence: to sin or not to sin; a good part and an evil part of his nature. † (Berkouwer, 1962). True enough, God could have stopped the serpent from interacting with Adam and Eve, but due to the freedom that he bestowed the two, they had the choice as to whether or not to take the apple that the serpent offered them. Ultimately then, it is this choice that they made which is the root cause of why they were banished from the garden of Eden. It would appear then that despite the Ten Commandments being set down by God to be sent to his people, the same is not precisely a set of obligatory rules imposed upon men. Rather, the Ten Commandments are considered as a guide as to how each person should live if he wants to experience the kind of life that God promised. This is a kind of life full of happiness, peace, beauty and love. A person’s freedom can lead to this if a person, in choosing paths to take, keeps in mind what the Ten Commandments speak of. Ultimately, it would depend upon the person if he will live the kind of life promised by God ever since the olden times, or if he will use his freedom to lead him to a kind of unspeakable and despicable kind of living. REFERENCE â€Å"The Ten Commandments†, http://www. whitestonejournal. com/tencommandments J. Kenneth Grider , â€Å"Human Freedom†, 1994, http://www. bibleviews. com/humanfreedom. html G. C. Berkouwer, â€Å"Human Freedom†, 1962, http://www. the-highway. com/freedom2_Berkouwer. html

Ecstasy :: essays research papers

Ecstasy is a very popular designer drug. It is said to give complete euphoria for up to 6 hours. It came around in the 80’s and is becoming more popular now. It’s real name is MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-Methylamphetamine). It is a dangerous high and is more popular with young people. In the following paragraphs are some information about the drug. Ecstasy is sold on the streets and is illegal as a schedule 1 drug, along with heroin and cocaine. It has many street names like beans, X, E, rolls, etc... Ecstasy can range anywhere from $5 to $25 and is usually a 100-150 mg pill. It’s known as the â€Å"love drug† because you are supposed to be very generous and friendly when on the drug. Effects generally happen within 20-40 minutes, when the user often experiences a brief "rush" of energy, usually described as mild but euphoric. After this rush, the high levels off to a peak which lasts 2-3 hours and is followed by a "coming down" sensation. MDMA exerts amphetamine-like effects which include dilated pupils, dry mouth and throat, tension in the lower jaw, grinding of the teeth, nystagmus (eye wiggles), sweating, or nausea and overall stimulation. These side effects are dose dependent and will vary depending on the health of the individual user. The following are some feelings or emotions the ecstasy user experiences: Entactogenesis ("touching within") This is a generalized feeling that all is right and good with the world. People on MDMA often describe feeling "at peace" or experiencing a generalized "happy" feeling. Also, common everyday things may seem to be abnormally beautiful or interesting. Empathogenesis Empathogenesis is a feeling of emotional closeness to others (and to one's self) coupled with a breakdown of personal communication barriers. People on MDMA report feeling much more at ease talking to others and that any hang-ups that one may have with regard to "opening up" to others may be reduced or even eliminated. An enhancement of the senses MDMA can significantly enhance (sometimes distort) the senses - touch, proprioception, vision, taste, smell. â€Å"Beaners† can sometimes be seen running their hands over differently textured objects repeatedly, tasting and smelling various foods/drinks. â€Å"Ecstasy. The perfect word. No other could have described what I was experiencing right then and there. Beyond words. The entire message was contained in a scream and the most intense smile my face had displayed in ages.

Eliot and Lawrence

T. S. Eliot and D. H. Lawrence – Compare and Contrast their Techniques and Themes T. S. Eliot and D. H. Lawrence, although they are both contemporary authors of Modernist period, express different values and techniques. They are both born in 1880s when the world enters the industrial age. While both witness the dynamic transition, they both criticize the modernity but in different methods. Two authors’ relations regarding techniques and themes would be analyzed by comparing Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915) and Lawrence’s two poem – How Beastly the Bourgeois is (1929) and Bavarian Gentians (1923).Eliot and Lawrence both display modernistic aspects. Modern middle class of England, so called Bourgeois is strongly criticized in Lawrence’s poem, How Beastly the Bourgeois is. The title itself clearly demonstrates Lawrence’s hostility towards bourgeois. The poem begins describing how bourgeois seem fancy outside. However, if he were let to be â€Å"faced with another man’s need, or to a bit of moral difficulty (11-12), he goes soggy like a wet meringue (13). He is all wormy and hollow inside just like an old mushroom.To Lawrence, bourgeois hold every aspect of cultural decay in the modern Western world. One of typical modernist tactic is to criticize modernity which includes the suddenly enhanced status of the middle class who lack corresponding intellectuals. Eliot also demonstrates Modernism. He was a key figure of Modernism and was so important a figure that the early Modernism era in 19th century is also called ‘The Age of Eliot’. In The Metaphysical Poets, written in 1915, he introduces his thoughts on what distinct features ‘Modern’ or ‘Metaphysical’ poets should use.Although his early poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is published prior to the book review, it also displays modernistic features. First of all, Prufrock, the speaker of the poem, is not going for ‘telos’. His utterances are not logically connected and thus fail to be accumulated into certain purpose. In this poem, his objective would be to declare his love as the title implies. However, all he does is to vision and revision (33). Constantly suggesting something bold but never do as so, he doesn’t move forward but always retreat. And indeed there will be timeTo wonder, ‘Do I dare? ’ and, ‘Do I dare? ’ Time to turn back and descend the stair, (37-39) His impotent feelings are shown in lines 39 as he descend the stair or as he uses the word ‘digress’ (66). He keeps inferring to ‘overwhelming question’ but it doesn’t lead to actions, which reminds of Bourgeois. Another similarity between Eliot and Lawrence’s poems is the coherent relationships between contents and structures. In Bavarian Gentians, gentians are compulsively modified by various embellishments. Bavarian gentians, big and dark, only dark arkening the daytime, torch-like, with the smoking blueness of Pluto's gloom, 5ribbed and torch-like, with their blaze of darkness spread blue down flattening into points, flattened under the sweep of white day torch-flower of the blue-smoking darkness, Pluto's dark-blue daze, black lamps from the halls of Dis, burning dark blue, giving off darkness, blue darkness, as Demeter's pale lamps give off light, 10lead me then, lead the way. (3-10) Words or phrases such as â€Å"big and dark, only dark and again darkening the daytime† qualifies gentians and those embellishments don’t stop until the line 6 before the main verb ‘sweep’.Compulsive embellishments start again after the main verb, and what the speaker does from line 3 to 10 is just to describe how dark and blue the gentians are. This strikingly repetitive structure helps expressing the desperate desire the speaker has for deadly vitality. Bavarian gentians itself contains vitali ty as the word ‘Bavarian’ infers. Also, its role is to lead the speaker to underworld where ultimate source of vitality seems to reside. Prufrock’s utterances are wordy and redundant as well. For instance, he uses triplets from line 122 to 124. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. (122-124) Triplet is a powerful technique to finish because it lets reader to feel that something is completed. However, Prufrock could not insist temptation to add some more. Right after the triplet, he continues as if he murmurs, â€Å"I do not think they will sing to me† (125). This endless revision mars the effect of the triplet and even makes it redundant. Triplet turns out to be in vain and this structure strengthens Prufrock’s indecisive character, in accordance with contentsEliot and Lawrence are also both talented in using vivid and power ful images. In How Beastly the Bourgeois is, Lawrence borrowed the hollow and damp image of mushroom to describe Bourgeois. It starts â€Å"Nicely groomed like a mushroom† which gives some humor to the poem. In Bavarian Gentians, repetition of dark and blue makes strong impressions. The gentians are like dark torch â€Å"darkening the daytime† (4) and â€Å"their blaze of darkness† (5) assign unimaginable darkness to the gentians. The vivid and powerful images of gentians are so impressive that it remains long after the poem is finished.The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is also famous for shocking images, devised by Eliot’s attempt to achieve ‘sudden contrast’. When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherized upon a table (2-3) This striking juxtaposition leaves strong images. Evening, like a patient etherized upon a table presents a symbolic landscape where Prufrocks’ unfruitful floundering eventually ends to be drowned. Line 8 to 9 also shows Eliot’s brilliance. The lines â€Å"tedious argument / Of insidious intent† (8-9) successfully secure the effect by putting unexpected words joined together.Eliot deliberately polished his lines to give exactly this unusual feeling. Samuel Johnson, however, criticized this kind of juxtaposition. He first named them ‘metaphysical’ poet with negative connotation. Also, he diminished the effect by arguing that in metaphysical poetry â€Å"the most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together† (Samuel Johnson, Cowley). However, Eliot rebutted Johnson’s review in The Metaphysical Poets. The poet must become more and more comprehensive, more allusive, more indirect, in order to force, to dislocate if necessary, language into his meaning.Furthermore, he encourages that poetry should include heterogeneity of material compelled into unity only differ in degree. While both Eliot and Lawrence create powerful imag es, their concepts of image are very different. Lawrence claims â€Å"poetry must be spontaneous, flexible, alive, ‘direct utterance from the instant, whole man,’ and should express the â€Å"pulsating, carnal self† (The Poetry of the Present, 1919). His version of successful poetry should contain raw feeling of instinctual self. On the contrary, Eliot is strongly against dissociation of sense and sensibility.Therefore from Eliot’s point of view, Lawrence’s inclination toward sensibility is not desirable. In Eliot’s point of view, Lawrence could even be categorized as a romantic poet. It is because Lawrence’s trust in instinctive raw feeling might relate him to Romanticism where human’s individual feelings were though highly of. Eliot endeavors to deliver image by letting people â€Å"feel their thought as immediately as the odour of a rose† (Metaphysical poet). For him, thoughts do not conflict with feelings. They are r ather harmoniously joined together and produce memorable expressions.He used ‘allusion’ to achieve these effects. When classical literature is inserted as an allusion, a text is connected to another, enlarging the thought and feelings of the text. While Romanticism regards poets’ genius as important, Eliot regards classical texts as so. Meanwhile, Lawrence values poet’s genius above others as he tries to capture ecstatic moments of vitality through his vision as shown in Bavarian Gentians. Eliot might advise Lawrence to control his overwhelming passions and use classical literature instead, for old texts often possess depths which enlarge the meaning of poetries.For example, an epigraph attached to the Love Song alludes to Dante’s Inferno. Guido confesses his sins to Dante only because he thought Dante would not be able to escape from the inferno and infamy him. Guido’s utterance takes place because Guido presumes that his utterance would mea n nothing as if it has never existed. Prufrocks’s utterances are also facing ontological question. Unlike its title, love is neither ever achieved nor even declared. He confesses â€Å"It’s impossible just to say what I mean! † (104). His utterances fail without accomplishing any goal.Therefore, the epigraph arranged rich context in accordance with Prufrock’s situation. Although Lawrence might be related to Romanticism with regard to his trust in human instinct, he is not Romantic poet. Contrary to typical Romanticism which tends to be often criticized for its idealistic detachment, Lawrence sings the vitality of human instinct, closely related to reality. In Bavarian Gentians, the speaker does not fly away from reality but rather goes underground and face the reality of realities – death. Gentians’ dark and blue power guides the speaker to enter into the presence of Pluto.Were it not been for his desire for the essence of vitality, this bre vity to face death would not be possible. Lawrence â€Å"takes off his mask of persona unlike other romantic poets such as Wordsworth and Yeats† (J. Kim, Lawrence) and vigorously recites his raw feeling as it is. As Eliot pursues to â€Å"incorporate erudition into sensibility† (Metaphysical Poets), he would prefer Bavarian Gentians to How Beastly the Bourgeois is. While Lawrence exposes direct feeling in both poems, Bavarian Gentians uses myths of Persephone or Odysseus. and Persephone herself is but a voice r a darkness invisible enfolded in the deeper dark of the arms Plutonic, and pierced with the passion of dense gloom, among the splendor of torches of darkness, shedding darkness on the lost bride and her groom. (16-20) Persephone or ‘the lost bride and her groom’ could be seen as allusions as it strengthens both the images of life and death. Persephone, combined with his mother Demeter, symbolizes uncontrollable vitality of land. Within this context, it become more persuasive that the speaker does go underground searching for essence of vitality retained in death.Regardless of their different techniques and themes, Eliot and Lawrence deliver messages and images vibrating with energy. They are contemporary poets with critical minds. Each took different measures to depict problems but both proved to be effective. Eliot who went over to England in pursuit of ‘tradition’, he referenced other works of literature within his text. This technique, called ‘allusion’ enabled Eliot’s text to be equipped with richer context in which the texts could be more delicately understood.Lawrence, on the other hand, focused more on expressing innate vitality of human being just like a person who was passionate enough to elope with his lover. He created direct and vivid images. Ceaselessly correcting himself, Prufrock loses his momentum. Eliot shows alienated character without making any adjustments. He rather chooses to borrow classical literature to round Prufrock’s character. Lawrence, meanwhile, tries to solve the problem of his era by suggesting the power of vitality. He urges others to pursue the vital power to the end, even till one faces death, where the essence of the power could be found. (1835 words)

What should a person care about more, the nation or the...

What should a person care about more, the nation or the individual? If an individual wants privacy for their personal life instead of national security, that is providing yourself with less protection. It is said that privacy is one of the cherished freedoms in our democracy. Everyone wants privacy in their life, but privacy can only go so far without having protection. National security is what keeps the United States safe. National security is the building blocks of a country, because without security anyone can take a country or destroy it. Most people want their life private and want only themselves to know what is going on, but if national security means keeping yourself and others around safe, why not choose it instead? When†¦show more content†¦The Central Security Service provides accurate support and knowledge to the military. It is in partnership with the National Security Service and the military. The government is constantly watching U.S. citizens and everything they do. Cameras are posted at red lights and at light posts. Every stop made at red lights by travelers is recorded and stored by google, comcast, or verizon. Employers place cameras in stores when you walk in and around different isles. They even place cameras in their parking lots. They are mostly looking for shoplifters but could occasionally come across a individual who is planning to harm others. Also, retailers scan and analyze every purchase made. Smart tvs monitor what each individual is watching. The government keeps a watch every citizen’s phone records, emails, texts, downloads, medical records, bank balances, credit card numbers, and where they travel. The executive branch of the government keeps a watch on all the cameras and it is all overseen by congress. In 2013, Edward Snowden, contractor, revealed documents showing the National Security Agency monitored the usage of telephone record s and searches on the internet. By letting the government watch individuals, the government can watch the United States, and ensure safety, but citizens are sacrificing their privacy.Show MoreRelated The Impact of Surveillance Technology on Privacy Essay1193 Words   |  5 PagesImpact of Surveillance Technology on Privacy      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   David Brin in The Transparent Society warns us of the future of privacy that is on the horizon.   With millions of cameras recording our every public move, who should have control of the information: companies and governments or we the citizens?   If we take a look at Brins vision of our future, his solution to the problem, the role of ICTs and the Kelley Cam at IU, we can come to a conclusion that our privacy is on the line and we as citizensRead MorePrivacy Is The Freedom From Interference1106 Words   |  5 PagesPrivacy and Technology Introduction Privacy is the freedom from interference. 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